2. And this one came from the same Cath Kidston mag…
“a caravan is another room to enjoy doing up,
without moving house”. Well, if that doesn’t
just sound like something I would say!

3. As well as my very happy childhood memories,
a caravan is now where I have been
at my happiest as an adult too.

In my Dad’s wedding speech, he wrote a sonnet
(yes he made people cry with his speech!)
that ended with the words
“It sounds like rain on a caravan roof.”

And then he spoke about how my Nana
would have loved that we were starting
our married life in a caravan.

Not only because she loved caravans but
“because it’s also a perfect metaphor for a long successful married life.
She would have agreed it’s about joy and disappointment shared,
up close. That’s a real test of any relationship
but the key thing to remember is, come rain or shine,
all you need is those you love and those who love you back.”

(I said he made people cry.)

So this Friday, I’m truly utterly, smitten
with the idea of us having a little caravan
of our own… and you know one day
we might even make it a reality.

Aaaw, your dad! So sweet. Yes, I love the caravans, and I love your memories of them too. My childhood consisted of very similar holidays…including the fuzzy felts! Hope you’ve had a nice weekend Zoe 🙂

Lovely post Zoe! I SO want a caravan or campervan too! But my other half has already communicated his many (practical) reasons for not having one! 🙁 one day I’ll have a huge garden at a big country house & it’ll have a little vintage caravan at the bottom for me to decorate and sit in! Haha! 🙂

It brought a little tear to my eye too!
I love the sound of rain on a caravan roof, it has many great childhood memories for me too. I used to love how everything was in miniature! – I hope you get your caravan soon x

Thanks all for both the caravan links and the comments on my Dad’s speech x

@Kirsteen – I know! Isn’t it amazing?!

@Kelly – you’re the second person to see that jumper and think of me… it must be a sign!

@Mel – I now have even more caravan envy! gorgeous!

@virginia – oh there were some jokes in there too… there were tears – and tears of laughter! think it’s a dad thing to have a joke at your daughter’s expense 😉

@Kerry – I’m glad you’re a fuzzy felt lover too… I should have known you would be!

@patchwork harmony – my other half has pointed out some of the practicalities but I think until I find one, he won’t go into them too much… of course if I find one, then that will be too late! 😉

@Rachel – I think it’s technically the Cath Kidston catalogue but it looks like a mag. I must have signed up for their mailing list as it comes in the post.

@Hazel – I love your description of everything being in miniature 🙂

@Sarah Rooftops – yup, jealous of your friend too, what a great way to spend next summer!

@domestikate – loving the ‘family of caravaners’. my now husband’s folks have one and my grandparents always had one so we both have a bit of a thing… though he’s maybe more a caravaner than me as his dad subscribes to some caravan magazine! 😉

Anyone can keep a caravan! Loads of people don’t keep them at their house – we’ve kept our on the local farm, on a patch of field at the edge of the village, and on a retired couple’s land some 10 miles away. There are plenty of options – no doubt Google would provide options for storage near Edinburgh. Or even through forums or the Camping & Caravanning Club / Caravan Club.

Also, have you seen T@b caravans: http://www.tabme.de/modelle.html
? They even come with yellow trim! You can get them in the UK too – Google will provide all. They are very funky.